Key cyber-oriented members of Congress and other officials cheered the Senate confirmation on Tuesday Alejandro Mayorkas
Alejandro MayorkasUS payroll agency targeted by Chinese hackers: Biden report on immigration orders: ‘I eliminate bad policies’ Hillicon Valley: Bezos steps down as Amazon CEO | Officials applaud Mayorkas’ confirmation as DHS secretary | Uber buys an alcohol delivery service, Drizly MORE as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), citing the need for his leadership following the hack of IT group SolarWinds.
The Senate confirmed Mayorkas by a 56-43 vote Tuesday after significant Republican setback over immigration issues, but he garnered significant bipartisan praise for his cybersecurity background, including experience as a DHS deputy secretary during the Obama administration.
“Mr. Mayorkas is a seasoned DHS veteran with bipartisan support who has the experience and background we need now,” Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee Bennie Thompson
Bennie Gordon Thompson Hillicon Valley: Bezos Steps Down as Amazon CEO | Officials applaud Mayorkas’ confirmation as DHS secretary | Uber to Buy Alcohol Delivery Service Drizly Officials Applaud Mayorkas Confirmation as DHS Secretary on Cyber Security Issues Capitol Rebellion: A PATRIOT Act 2.0? LAKE (D-Miss.) Said in a statement after the vote in the Senate. “His extensive work in the fields of immigration, cybersecurity and counter-terrorism makes him uniquely qualified to ensure that the country remains resilient and secure.”
A major problem immediately facing Mayorkas is the battle with the fallout from the hack of SolarWinds software by Russian agents, which has endangered much of the federal government, including DHS, along with up to 18,000 domestic and international groups.
The hack, first discovered in December, lasted more than a year and is cited as one of the largest cyber incidents in US history. The attack could be worse than previously feared, with Reuters reports On Tuesday, Chinese hackers separately added malicious code to SolarWinds software, putting at least one section of the Agriculture Ministry at risk.
Member of the House Homeland Security Committee John Katko
John Michael KatkoUS payroll agency targeted by Chinese hackers: Hillicon Valley report: Bezos steps down as Amazon CEO | Officials applaud Mayorkas’ confirmation as DHS secretary | Uber Buys Alcohol Delivery Service Drizly House Republicans Prepare For Conference Meeting Amid Party Civil War MORE (RN.Y.) highlighted SolarWinds’ breakthrough by congratulating Mayorkas on its confirmation Tuesday.
“Our homeland security, economic security and way of life continue to be threatened in unprecedented ways by highly sophisticated adversaries,” Katko said in a statement. “On the heels of one of the most dangerous cyber-attacks our country has experienced, I would urge Secretary Mayorkas to work with Congress, across party lines, to close the troubling gaps in our country’s cybersecurity.”
In the Senate, key figures involved in Mayorkas ‘nomination hearing also cited the need to respond to the breach by praising Mayorkas’ confirmation.
“Mr. Mayorkas is a proven leader and has the experience to protect the American people from harm,” said Senate Chair of Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Gary Peters
Gary Peters Hillicon Valley: Bezos Steps Down as CEO of Amazon | Officials applaud Mayorkas’ confirmation as DHS secretary | Uber buys alcohol delivery service Drizly Officials applaud Mayorkas’ confirmation as DHS secretary over cybersecurity concerns The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – How Will Democrats Take With The COVID-19 Bill? LAKE (D-Mich.) Said on the Senate floor on Tuesday, citing threats such as “cyber attacks from foreign opponents” as one of the problems Mayorkas would face during his tenure.
Her. Maggie Hassan
Margaret (Maggie) Hassan Officials applaud Mayorkas’ confirmation as DHS secretary on cybersecurity concerns Peters as head of Senate Democratic campaign weapon Moderates pledge to be ‘a force’ under Biden MORE (DN.H.), a member of the Senate Panel on Homeland Security, stressed the need for Senate-affirmed leadership in an agency responsible for “keeping our country safe and free.”
“Between foreign and domestic terrorist threats and SolarWinds’ cybersecurity breach, it is critical that we have someone leading the department with the expertise and decision to address these challenges and more,” Hassan said in a statement. “Secretary Mayorkas’ previous leadership experience and deep knowledge of a range of national security threats will serve him well in this position.”
As secretary, Mayorkas has committed to making cybersecurity a top priority. DHS includes the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the primary federal agency responsible for securing critical infrastructure, including elections.
President Biden has not yet formally announced his choice to lead the CISA, which has had no Senate-confirmed leadership since the previous president. President Trump
Donald Trump Secretary of State of Georgia opens investigation into Lin Wood over illegal ballot allegations Schiff lobbies Newsom to be appointed California AG: reports Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick is in Rotunda in honor MORE fired then-CISA director Christopher Krebs in November.
“I can assure you that our nation’s cybersecurity will be one of my top priorities because I agree that the threat is real and the threat is every day, and we need to do better than we are now,” Mayorkas said last month during his nomination hearing before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs.
Mayorkas also has the backing of cybersecurity officials, with Politico reporting in December that more than three dozen bipartisan former federal cyberleaders had joined a letter urging the Senate Homeland Security Panel to quickly confirm Mayorkas.
“Known and respected in the cyber community, Mr. Mayorkas possesses the intelligence, integrity and skills to assume leadership and protect our homeland’s assets – physical and cyber in nature – on day one,” the leaders wrote, with the group consisting of former CISA Deputy Director Matthew Travis and General Keith Alexander, the former head of both the National Security Agency and the US Cyber Command.
Suzanne Spaulding, the former director of CISA’s predecessor agency, also signed on to the letter and told The Hill Last week, she hoped Mayorkas would be confirmed soon to give the DHS leadership it needs to address cybersecurity concerns.
“I … really urge the Senate to move forward quickly in confirming Alejandro Mayorkas, who I worked closely with when I worked at DHS and who will be a great secretary … that’s critical. , ”said Spaulding. “The men and women at DHS will continue to do what they can, but there are limits to what they can do without Senate-affirmed leadership.”